Lobelia plant named ‘Loblilaca’

ABSTRACT

A new  Lobelia  plant particularly distinguished by its spreading plant habit, strong branching, large flower size and light blue flower color.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Lobelia erinus.

Varietal denomination: ‘Loblilaca’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lobelia plant. The new cultivar is propagated by cuttings resulting from the cross between Lobelia erinus ‘A951-1’ and Lobelia erinus ‘Z868-1.’ Lobelia erinus ‘A951-1’ is a blue flower color selection of our own breeding, having a spreading habit, very strong growth, good branching plant habit and being early flowering. Lobelia erinus ‘Z868-1’ is a lilac flower color selection of our own breeding, having a strong growth, trailing plant habit and being early flowering. Neither Lobelia erinus ‘A951-1’ or Lobelia erinus ‘Z868-1’ has been patented.

As a result of this cross the present cultivar was created in 2000 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen over a four year period. The new variety is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Lobelia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color, the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of this new Lobelia. The data, which defines these characteristics, were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 20 week old plants.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ‘LOBILACA’ AND TWO RESEMBLING VARIETIES ‘Wesstar’ (U.S. Pat. No. ‘Ricardii’ Characteristic ‘Loblilaca’ PP 12,678) (not patented) plant height 20 cm 25 cm 25 cm width 45 cm 50 cm 50 cm shape Spreading to Spreading to Spreading to upright upright upright flower color upper surface N80A 95B 95B lower surface N80B 100A 95B flower tube N80A 95C 96D

No descriptions of parentlines are available. The only info is mentioned as background of the new plant on page 1.

-   The plant:     -   -   Classification.—Botanical: Lobelia erinus.         -   Parentage.—Female parent: A seeding named Lobelia erinus             ‘A951-1’ is one of our seedlings from our A-generation of             plants bred in 1999. Male parent: A seedling named Lobelia             erinus ‘Z868-1’ is one of our seedlings from our             Z-generation of plants bred in 1998.         -   Growth habit.—Spreading to upright.         -   Plant height.—20 cm.         -   Spreading area of plant.—45 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Strong growth.         -   Strength.—Good, excellent.         -   Branching character.—Freely branching and lateral branching             at every node. Pinching will enhance branching. Branches             strong and flexible.         -   Blooming period.—From May until October. -   The stem:     -   -   Diameter.—1.5 mm.         -   Length.—25 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth, slightly pubescent, glossy.         -   Color.—RHS 137B in old leaves, RHS 137C in young leaves.         -   Length of internode.—10-20 mm, depending on the light             conditions where the plant is grown, and the age of the             stem.         -   Shape.—(Tri)angular. -   The foliage:     -   -   Shape.—Leaves simple, generally symmetrical and flat.             Broadly ovate with rounded apex, obtuse to attenuate base             and crenate margin in young plant; more lanceolate in Mature             plant.         -   Texture.—Slightly pubescent on upper and lower sides; very             glossy on upper side, glossy on lower side.         -   Length.—25 mm.         -   Width.—In young plant 10 mm, Mature plant 5 mm.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B in old leaves, RHS 137C in             young leaves. Lower surface: RHS 137B in old leaves, RHS             137C in young leaves.         -   Foliage color applies for juvenile as well as mature             phase.—Veins: Pinnate, upper side RHS 137B, lower side RHS             137B.         -   Length of petiole.—Not present in leaves of Mature plant; in             young plant up to 10 mm.         -   Diameter of petiole.—20.5 mm.         -   Color of petiole.—RHS 137C. -   The flower:     -   -   Type and habit.—Flower form at apical axils, usually one             flower per axil. Flowers labiate, upper lip consisting of             two small petals and lower lip consisting of three larger             and broader petals. Petals have oblong shape with a             mucronulate apex and entire margin.         -   Lastingness on the plant.—10-14 days depending on             temperature. Petals are fused at base into a tube. Freely             and continuously flowering, around 100-150 flowers. Flowers             face outward.         -   Flower.—Petal Width: Upper petals 1 mm, lower petals 7 mm.             Petal length: Upper petals 7 mm, lower peals 9 mm. Flower             depth: 17 mm. Flower diameter: 15 mm.         -   Texture.—Smooth, slightly pubescent on upper and lower             sides.         -   Buds.—Length: 7 mm. Diameter: 3 mm. Form: Tubular. Color:             RHS 144D.         -   Flower color.—Upper surface: RHS N80A. Lower surface: RHS             N80B. Flower tube (outside): RHS N80A on upper side, N80C on             lower side. On the three lower petals of flower, there is a             white spot, width 3 mm, depth 5 mm, color closest to RHS             155D. There is not a white spot on the upper petals. At the             base of the lower petals, where the throat starts, there are             two yellow markings into the throat (Length 8 mm, width 0.5             mm, RHS 2A).         -   Throat.—Texture: Whiskered. Depth: 8 mm. Diameter: 2.5 mm.         -   Throat color.—RHS 155D with spots of RHS N80A.         -   Sepals.—No. of sepals: 5. Length: 6 mm. Width: 0.5 mm.             Texture: Slightly pubescent and glossy for both upper and             lower surfaces. Color: RHS 137B upper side and RHS 137B             lower side. Shape: Linear. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire.

Sepals are fused at base.

-   -   -   Flower stem.—Length: 20 mm. Angle: Upright. Strength: Rigid,             flexible. Color: RHS 137B. Diameter: 0.4 mm.

-   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamen number: 5. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther             length: 2 mm. Anther color: RHS 200A. Pollen color: RHS 9B.             Amount of pollen: Moderate.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil length: 8 mm. Stigma shape: Bilobate.             Stigma diameter: 1 mm. Stigma color: N80C. Style color: RHS             77A near stigma, RHS 77A towards base. Ovary color: RHS             137C.

-   Seed development: Some seed development has been observed on plants     of the new Lobelia.     -   -   Seed color.—RHS N199B.         -   Seed shape.—Round.         -   Seed size.—Very small, ‘like dust’.         -   Seed amount per seed pod.—Approximately 2000.

-   Fruit:     -   -   Fruitsize.—Diameter: 2 mm. Length: 5 mm. Fruit color: RHS             146B.

-   Disease resistance: No susceptibility or resistance to fungal,     bacterial or viral pathogens has been noted. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Lobelia plant, named ‘Loblilaca,’ as illustrated and described herein. 